Keith Foulke Retires
UPDATE: Foulke retired after feeling some elbow pain this spring.
Word via a Cleveland radio station is that closer candidate Keith Foulke will announce his retirement today. He was the favorite to pitch the ninth inning, but now it will go to Joe Borowski.
The move is quite a surprise; perhaps he uncovered a serious injury. He’ll abandon a $5MM salary. Foulke is 34; he’s got a 3.30 career ERA in 755 innings.
Keith Foulke Retires
UPDATE: Foulke retired after feeling some elbow pain this spring.
Word via a Cleveland radio station is that closer candidate Keith Foulke will announce his retirement today. He was the favorite to pitch the ninth inning, but now it will go to Joe Borowski.
The move is quite a surprise; perhaps he uncovered a serious injury. He’ll abandon a $5MM salary. Foulke is 34; he’s got a 3.30 career ERA in 755 innings.
Relievers Find Homes (or not)
More minor league deals:
Cliff Politte has signed with the Indians. I would imagine he’ll start the year in Triple-A, but as veteran insurance for a 11th or 12th pitcher goes, teams could do a lot worse.
Kerry Lightenberg has signed with the Reds. He’ll also probably end up in Triple-A, and he’s an example of how teams could do worse than Politte.
Dustin Hermanson tried out for several teams, but the Phillies were unimpressed. That leaves the Reds. If you want to do worse than Politte or Lightenberg…well, here’s your man. Wayne Krivsky, get on the phone!
By Jeff Sackmann
www.BrewCrewBall.com
Relievers Find Homes (or not)
More minor league deals:
Cliff Politte has signed with the Indians. I would imagine he’ll start the year in Triple-A, but as veteran insurance for a 11th or 12th pitcher goes, teams could do a lot worse.
Kerry Lightenberg has signed with the Reds. He’ll also probably end up in Triple-A, and he’s an example of how teams could do worse than Politte.
Dustin Hermanson tried out for several teams, but the Phillies were unimpressed. That leaves the Reds. If you want to do worse than Politte or Lightenberg…well, here’s your man. Wayne Krivsky, get on the phone!
By Jeff Sackmann
www.BrewCrewBall.com
Indians Sign Trot Nixon
Despite recent interest from the Pirates, the Indians signed right fielder Trot Nixon for one year and $3MM. Even with Nixon on the decline, it’s hard not to like the signing for the Tribe. The Indians already have a decent RF in Shin-Soo Choo, but this provides some depth and strong defense.
A Nixon/Choo platoon probably wouldn’t make sense – looking at the splits for both players, neither can hit lefties. However, Casey Blake can play right when the Indians face a southpaw.
The Tribe will have roughly 1800 ABs to go around for Blake, Nixon, Choo, Ryan Garko, David Dellucci, Jason Michaels, and Franklin Gutierrez. Perhaps a trade is in order.
I tried to allocate the ABs for fantasy baseball, and my brain exploded. Please go over to RotoAuthority and help out.
Mulder Signs With Cardinals
UPDATE: It’s confirmed – Mulder will return to the Cardinals for a guaranteed contract of two years and $13MM. Incentives can kick in to make it a three-year, $45MM pact if Mulder makes 30 starts in each of the next two seasons. It’s a longshot but it could be done if he returns right in the beginning of May. He had shoulder surgery in September of 2006.
Adam Wainwright might be able to remain in the bullpen as a result of the signing.
UPDATE: Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has once source saying Mulder has signed with the Cards. He’s trying to confirm it with more sources.
Mark Mulder could decide tonight between the Cardinals, Indians, and Rangers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cards have offered two years and potentially $18MM. The lefty probably won’t be ready to pitch until July, but he is looking at two guaranteed years from any of the three clubs.
The Dallas Morning News agrees that a decision is likely today. The three teams have made similar offers. If that’s the case, I don’t know why Mulder would choose to pitch in Texas or even the American League. The Rangers could snag one of Tomo Ohka, Mark Redman, Tony Armas Jr., Steve Trachsel, or Bruce Chen instead. The Rangers could use one more guy so as not to have to go with both Robinson Tejeda and John Koronka.
Foulke To Take Physical Today
The long-rumored Keith Foulke signing is passing a hurdle today – Foulke is in Cleveland to take his physical. It appears to be a one-year deal with a mutual option for ’08. Foulke will join a cast of shaky veteran additions in the Tribe pen.
Foulke, 34, was hurt mostly by the longball in the last couple of seasons. Jacobs Field should help in that it suppresses HRs by about 15%.
UPDATE: The News-Herald says Foulke’s 2007 salary would be $3-4MM.
Indians News: Foulke, Mulder, Westbrook
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer checks in with various Tribe updates.
Keith Foulke still has to take his physical; the Indians probably won’t reach an agreement until next week. Foulke would team with Joe Borowski to take the eighth and ninth innings, which neither pitching three days in a row.
The Indians are waiting to hear back from Mark Mulder‘s agent on their reported two-year offer. Should Mulder be signed and ready in May or June, it might allow for a trade. Paul Byrd, Cliff Lee, or Jake Westbrook could be dealt to clear space.
There’s also a chance the Indians sign Westbrook to an extension; they may speak on the topic before the season starts. Westbrook will be a 30 year-old with probably four consecutive seasons of 210 innings; that should command $11-12MM and four or five years on the open market.
Foulke Close With Indians
Fantasy leaguers, take note – reliever Keith Foulke is close to signing a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2008 with the Indians. It’s still not too late for another team to jump in with a better offer, however.
Foulke would join Joe Borowski as candidates for save opportunities. Foulke, a 34 year-old changeup artist, posted an excellent 5.1 K/BB in 2006. He would join free agent additions Borowski, Roberto Hernandez, and Aaron Fultz in a revamped Cleveland bullpen. Revamped and more expensive, but is it actually better? That’s an open question. All four of the new relievers are shaky bets; I guess Mark Shapiro is going for safety in numbers.
Foulke To Join Indians?
In a note at the bottom of his column, Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe mentions that Keith Foulke is expected to sign today. Edes thinks it could be the Tribe.
The Indians, having tried going young last year, are stocking up on veteran relievers this winter. They’ve already added Joe Borowski, Aaron Fultz, and Roberto Hernandez.